The topic for this month's discussion is:
"Describe your stitching style – are you a one-at-a-time stitcher? Do you stitch on rotation? Are you a chaos wrangler? Are you comfortable in your current stitching style, or are you still searching for that stitching zen?"
I started out as a "start it - finish it before going on to the next piece" stitcher. That was before the word "rotation" was brought into the discussion. I'm not sure exactly when I first encountered it but I suspect it was somewhere around this WIPOcalypse post in 2014... In this post, I stated that I was not comfortable with having more than one piece in progress at a time. I stated that in 2006, I had done rotations --- a different project each day of the week --- when I was trying to get a lot of UFOs off the deck. But after that experience, which I found less than fulfilling (I'd get on a roll with a piece and have to put it down for a week because the next night was the next piece's turn...), I'd tried to avoid having more than one embroidery piece in the works. Still, in 2014 I was doing several online challenges: non-cross-stitch projects like Bead Journal Project, Crazy Quilt Journal Project, Take a Stitch Tuesday; an online class in finishing; across-stitch BAP; a blackwork SAL which I hadn't started yet (and, by the way, still haven't finished!); and and another SAL underway.
My how things have changed. I blame it on SALs... installments of some of which come out every other day, some once a month and some every two months. Obviously, one can't stitch on only one project with that kind of schedule unless one wishes to insert lots of down time, and I found that down time means loss of mojo and it is VERY hard to get back into stitching (example, the four years with broken wrist, torn tendon and PT issues where stitching was not possible. Even when my hand had fully recovered, it took me nearly two years to pick up a needle and start stitching again!)!
So now I am a confirmed rotation stitcher. The pieces that come out every other day get priority. On the off days, I pick one of the monthly or bimonthly pieces to work on and I work on those in a set order. If there are five SALs, then a month is scheduled as follows: every-other-day, Monthly 1, every-other-day, Monthly 2, every-other-day, Mostly 3 and so on. If a month has a gap (say Monthly 3 is a bimonthly piece), then I insert a long-term UFO... I hope that makes sense.
Not sure if this is being a chaos wrangler or not. Certainly, chaos reigns in my stash so probably not.
As for being comfortable in my current stitching style, or still searching for that stitching zen, I'm not sure rotation is any more fulfilling than it was in 2006. I am currently tempted to stick with my long-term UFO at the expense of one or more of the SALs because the UFO is nearing the finish line (only borders and beading to do) and being able to see the end means my motivation is high for that one piece. I tend to rationalize that, if a pattern is only released once a month, there is plenty of time to get back to it in time for the next release. Also, since my every-other-day SAL is also nearing completion, that means I will have those extra days to fill before the next SAL comes along to tempt me (and believe me, there are several that probably will!)!
~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~
When I checked in on the first of the month, I said I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitched" blackwork Sampler, which was roughly 60% complete. I have not touched this piece this month.
~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~
There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended Dinky Dye threads. On January 1, I still had a lion on the right of the piece to finish and then borders (heavy with beading) to finish. The photo on the left is the piece as it appeared in that post. On the left is the piece as it is as of January 28:
My how things have changed. I blame it on SALs... installments of some of which come out every other day, some once a month and some every two months. Obviously, one can't stitch on only one project with that kind of schedule unless one wishes to insert lots of down time, and I found that down time means loss of mojo and it is VERY hard to get back into stitching (example, the four years with broken wrist, torn tendon and PT issues where stitching was not possible. Even when my hand had fully recovered, it took me nearly two years to pick up a needle and start stitching again!)!
So now I am a confirmed rotation stitcher. The pieces that come out every other day get priority. On the off days, I pick one of the monthly or bimonthly pieces to work on and I work on those in a set order. If there are five SALs, then a month is scheduled as follows: every-other-day, Monthly 1, every-other-day, Monthly 2, every-other-day, Mostly 3 and so on. If a month has a gap (say Monthly 3 is a bimonthly piece), then I insert a long-term UFO... I hope that makes sense.
Not sure if this is being a chaos wrangler or not. Certainly, chaos reigns in my stash so probably not.
As for being comfortable in my current stitching style, or still searching for that stitching zen, I'm not sure rotation is any more fulfilling than it was in 2006. I am currently tempted to stick with my long-term UFO at the expense of one or more of the SALs because the UFO is nearing the finish line (only borders and beading to do) and being able to see the end means my motivation is high for that one piece. I tend to rationalize that, if a pattern is only released once a month, there is plenty of time to get back to it in time for the next release. Also, since my every-other-day SAL is also nearing completion, that means I will have those extra days to fill before the next SAL comes along to tempt me (and believe me, there are several that probably will!)!
~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~
When I checked in on the first of the month, I said I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitched" blackwork Sampler, which was roughly 60% complete. I have not touched this piece this month.
~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~
There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended Dinky Dye threads. On January 1, I still had a lion on the right of the piece to finish and then borders (heavy with beading) to finish. The photo on the left is the piece as it appeared in that post. On the left is the piece as it is as of January 28:
As you can see, I have made some progress on the inner border. There are several outer borders and the beads yet to come...
~~~~~SALs started in 2021~~~~~
1. Stitchonomy "Christmas SAL 2021", started December 2021, in progress. A new motif is released every other day. It is stitched on ice blue AIDA (not obvious in this photo) in the colors specified (except I am substituting a DNC Diamante gold for a called for yellow and a Diamante silver for ornament hangers). There is a pot at the bottom of the tree not yet started in this photo; I wanted to see if I prefer one of the alternatives before stitching it. And there are charms to be added to the snowflake on the bottom branch and the tree on the next-to-bottom branch but I am waiting until the entire piece is stitched before attaching them.
Since this is a mystery SAL, I can only reveal what is public, even though I belong to the pattern club and have actually completed this piece:
~~~~~SALs started in 2021~~~~~
1. Stitchonomy "Christmas SAL 2021", started December 2021, in progress. A new motif is released every other day. It is stitched on ice blue AIDA (not obvious in this photo) in the colors specified (except I am substituting a DNC Diamante gold for a called for yellow and a Diamante silver for ornament hangers). There is a pot at the bottom of the tree not yet started in this photo; I wanted to see if I prefer one of the alternatives before stitching it. And there are charms to be added to the snowflake on the bottom branch and the tree on the next-to-bottom branch but I am waiting until the entire piece is stitched before attaching them.
Since this is a mystery SAL, I can only reveal what is public, even though I belong to the pattern club and have actually completed this piece:
2. A Lakeside Needlecraft free "Christmas SAL", started in December 2021 and now complete. Stitched on white Aida using recommended threads.
One error in the stitching, top right corner of the border is one stitch off. I only discovered it near the end and was unwilling to front the entire border so I left it in and adjusted for the difference.
~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~
1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss. Installment one, "Larimar" is complete". Installment two, "Malachite" is in progress:
~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~
1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss. Installment one, "Larimar" is complete". Installment two, "Malachite" is in progress:
2. a Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, designed by Nancy Wahler, which started with the February 2022 issue of the magazine (I get it digitally as well as hard copy); further installments come in future magazine issues through the end of 2022. Stitched on Wichelt oatmeal evenweave using Anchor and Weeks Dye Works threads, and Kreinik braids.
The first installment consists of two houses, the first of which, a Victorian-style house, is complete except for the backstitching; (NOTE: I was a half stitch off from the top and from the left in placement of the house. I discovered this after the house was done and I was NOT going to waste all that speciality floss so had to fudged the smyrna stitching in the grass. I just cannot count!)
The first installment consists of two houses, the first of which, a Victorian-style house, is complete except for the backstitching; (NOTE: I was a half stitch off from the top and from the left in placement of the house. I discovered this after the house was done and I was NOT going to waste all that speciality floss so had to fudged the smyrna stitching in the grass. I just cannot count!)
The second house will go in the frame immediately below this one...
3. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin" , designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began after four installments had been issued. There is a sixth now in hand. I had issues - and the frog was a frequent visitor (as you might be able to see from the blue fuzz on the white evenweave fabric). It has been put away until I can deal with my obvious inablility to follow a pattern here!
3. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin" , designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began after four installments had been issued. There is a sixth now in hand. I had issues - and the frog was a frequent visitor (as you might be able to see from the blue fuzz on the white evenweave fabric). It has been put away until I can deal with my obvious inablility to follow a pattern here!
~~~~~
So there you have it: my stitching this past January: one completion and progress on one WIP and progress on four SALs.
Happy New Year and here's hoping it turns out more like "normal" than the last two years! Meanwhile, stay safe out there: get vaccinated and boosted if eligible, and mask up wherever there are groups of people NOT in your "pod"! I have too many friends who are suffering from this latest variant and I don't want to lose any more...
So there you have it: my stitching this past January: one completion and progress on one WIP and progress on four SALs.
Happy New Year and here's hoping it turns out more like "normal" than the last two years! Meanwhile, stay safe out there: get vaccinated and boosted if eligible, and mask up wherever there are groups of people NOT in your "pod"! I have too many friends who are suffering from this latest variant and I don't want to lose any more...
